In considering Logos, you should think first about the ‘colour’ of the package (Bronze, Gold, Diamond, etc.), and then about which denominational flavour you want. Assuming your budget can handle it, you should be considering

Diamond ($3,449.95) — pastors who want a wide range of resources from the last three centuries, and are involved in ministry and more academic work

Portfolio ($4,979.95) — pastor-theologians, particularly those with a strong interest in Bible background.

Collector’s Edition ($10,799.95) — seminary professors (or possibly PhD students) who major in OT or NT studies, and who want a varied library that crosses disciplines or are involved in church leadership.

The guide below is aimed particular at those I know best — students, preachers and academics within the evangelical tradition, so bear that in mind as I assess the value of hte various packages. I don’t know Catholicism, SDA or Orthodoxy well enough to comment on them. Remember, there are dozens of differences between each package, but I try to highlight only the most important. I’m fortunate enough to own all the base packages on this page, so at least you know I’m speaking from experience.

Within each family, all the larger packages include everything in the cheaper packages (so Baptist Gold contains everything in Baptist Silver). This means you can upgrade from one package to another by paying the difference between the two, plus only a little bit more. So if you can’t afford the package you want now, you could buy a cheaper one and upgrade later. You can also mix and match base packages without paying twice for resources that are included in both packages. That’s definitely worth considering once you get past the Gold level.

Finally, if you want a 10% discount and possibly some free books, don’t order online. Instead call Logos at 1-888-875-9491 (or email [email protected]), and tell them Mark Barnes referred you. You’ll get the discount, and I’ll get a little something, too :-).

Suitable for: Those looking for an entry-level package, who aren’t working with the original languages.

Also available:

Anglican Starter also adds several dozen books on theological topics, mostly written by Anglicans or about Anglicanism. The most valuable addition is undoubtedly N.T. Wright’s New Testament for Everyone Series ($199.95), which is superior to the one-volume commentaries it replaces. NCV and NKJV replace the HCSB and NET Bible. The devotional works and commentaries are replaced with those that reflect Anglican thinking (there’s a strong emphasis on the lectionary).

Pentecostal/Charismatic Starter also swaps out resources for their equivalent, and loses a few Bibles (such as HCSB and NASB) and DBL. It’s very weak on commentaries. In their place are several books on prayer and charismatic/Pentecostal theology, including Sam Storms’ Theological Studies [$32.95].

Reformed Starter adds several books on biblical and theological topics (the most valuable additions are Battle’s Calvin’s Institutes [$69.95], and the Works of Jonathan Edwards [$119.95]), but has less on devotions, counselling or ministry. There are also some good works on early creeds, but fewer dictionaries and English Bibles (the GNT, HCSB, and NLT are all missing).

Verdict: Unless you’re keen to get Wright’s NT for Everyone series, Anglican Starter doesn’t have much for the generalist, but may suit Anglicans who are Anglicans by conviction, rather than by accident. That’s even more true of the Baptist Starter, Methodist/Wesleyan Starter and Pentecostal/Charismatic Starter, but if you don’t fall into those categories, Starter (for dictionaries), Lutheran Starter (for commentaries) or Reformed Starter (for theology) would be better choices.

Verdict: Neither Baptist Bronze nor Methodist/Wesleyan Bronze has any stand-out additions, in my opinion. Choosing between the other Bronze packages is tough. Anglican Bronze, Lutheran Bronze or Reformed Bronze probably represent better value for money than standard Bronze if you can manage without the English Bibles and BEB, simply because of the better commentaries and/or the Church Fathers. Pentecostal/Charismatic Bronze loses a lot, but gains a lot in Tozer. Go with your denominational instincts: choose Anglican if you want the Fathers and For Everyone, Reformed if you want Calvin, Pentecostal if you want Tozer, Lutheran if you want the Fathers and Augsburg, Methodist/Wesleyan if you want the Wesleyan Bible Commentary.

Reformed Silver also misses out on most of Silver’s highlights, though it does include the Early Church Fathers and Calvin’s Commentaries are, of course carried up from Reformed Bronze. The 41-volume Focus on the Bible Commentaries [$409.95] together with the 19th-century Lange’s Commentary [$299.95] and 17th-century Poor Man’s Commentary [$126.95] together take the place of NAC. Like most of the other denominational packages, there’s a fair smattering of theology and history, too.

Verdict:Silver is not quite as compelling as the upgrade from Starter to Bronze, but nonetheless it represents excellent value for money, as the two main highlights are expensive, multi-volume works, which are both very useful. Baptist Silver is worth considering if you’d prefer Spurgeon’s sermons to the Early Church Fathers. The NAC is a big loss to Reformed Silver, and its replacements lack the NAC’s up-to-date scholarship. Pentecostal/Charismatic Silver is worth considering if you prefer good quality modern commentaries that centre on application. Both Lutheran and Anglican Silver have little general appeal beyond their own denominational boundaries in my opinion, although the inclusion of Bonhoeffer’s works in Lutheran Silver might attract those more interested in theology than commentaries. But for most users Silver is probably the best option.

Baptist Gold has more of Gold’s best resources, including NAC (from Baptist Silver), APOT and TDNT. It also includes 13 volumes of the Lexham Bible Guides (covering all of Paul’s letters) [$534.95]. Other additions since Baptist Silver include dozens of commentary volumes of which the only useful modern set is the IVP New Testament Commentary Series [$289.95]. Several primary sources for OT and NT background are included, and TLOT is added from Bronze. The rest is a mixture of ministry, theology and biblical studies from the last several centuries.

Verdict:Gold represents terrific value for money if you’re looking for good quality modern commentaries and they alone are well worth the $550 premium over Silver. But the denomination packages are far less attractive in my view. Baptist Gold might tempt those looking for less technical commentaries, and Lutheran Gold may appeal to those who appreciate German or Continental scholarship. Pentecostal & Charismatic Gold adds exegetical tools, but lacks commentaries. Reformed Gold is strong on theology, but weak on Biblical Studies. Ultimately, the lack of good commentary sets in the denominational packages means that for most people regular Gold is the best option.

Verdict: The Platinum base packages are something of a mixed bag. Platinum might suit pastors wanting to do in-depth Greek exegesis, but offers little new on the OT. Anglican Platinum is woefully short of commentaries and exegetical aids in my opinion. Baptist Platinum has some nice commentaries, but at this level I’d expect at least some of the additions to be more exegetical and academic. Lutheran Platinum is good for NT exegesis, fairly good for OT/NT background, OK for theology (if you like the Continental sort) but almost all its commentaries are very dated. Reformed Platinum is certainly a good improvement on Reformed Gold, it’s fairly well-balanced, and is not too far behind Platinum for Biblical Studies. If you’re not a pastor doing in-depth Greek exegesis (or even if you are) remember that for about the same money, you could purchase Gold plus one of the denominational Silver base packages. That mix is likely to offer better value for money for most people.

Verdict: Prior to the Diamond level the denominational packages tended to be very weak on commentary sets, but thankfully they’ve now caught up. Personally, I’m not convinced the standard Diamond package is worth the premium over Platinum. If the denominational Diamond packages don’t appeal, you might be inclined to mix and match some of the smaller packages. But Anglican Diamond is good value for Anglicans committed to Continental/European theology, Baptist Diamond would suit pastors wanting non-academic commentaries combined with high-quality Greek tools. Reformed Diamond offers an excellent mix of exegetical tools, Biblical Studies, systematic theology and historical theology, mostly in the reformed or evangelical stream.

Suitable for: Pastor-theologians, particularly those with a strong interest in Bible background.

Verdict: Portfolio is a reasonably good upgrade from Diamond, but it’s not for most people. To benefit from it you really need to be a pastor-theologian with a strong interest in Bible background. Anglican Portfolio is worth getting mostly for the Fathers of the Church, ICC (Old Testament) and AYBD. If they don’t appeal, then it’s probably a pass. Reformed Portfolio adds value to the Reformed stream for those who want European/Continental commentaries. They and others will appreciate HALOT, AYBD and other sets, but that might not be enough to justify the $1,500 price increase from Reformed Diamond. For most users then, the advice is the same as earlier. If you have a Portfolio-sized budget you may be better off mixing and matching smaller base packages or bundles.

Suitable for: Seminary professors (or possibly PhD students) who major in OT or NT studies, particularly those who want a varied library that crosses disciplines, or are involved in church leadership.

Verdict: Despite the massive cost, Collector’s Edition represents excellent value for money for those who can put it to use. Like Portfolio, it’s not for most people. Most pastors will be better served by a smaller package. Professors of Church History or Systematics probably won’t find enough relevant content to justify the cost. But for OT or NT seminary professors and PhD students, there are few other places where you can get such a range of academic commentaries and monographs for such a (relatively) low price.

1 Response to Logos 6 Buyers’ Guide

I have a thousand dollars for the GOLD package, how can I get a discount to pay thousand for the GOLD? Are there ways I can pursue to find discounts? I’m able to put $400.00 down of the thousand dollars, and after wish time I can put a $100.00 down each month for the next six months to pay the rest of the $600.00 dollars left.